Idea Cellular

{{About|the previous Indian mobile telecommunications company supported by Aditya Birla Group|the successor (and current) company|Vodafone Idea}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Idea Cellular Limited

| logo =

| logo_size =

| image =

| former_name = Birla Communications Limited (1995-1996)
Birla AT&T Communications Limited (1996-2001)
Birla Tata AT&T Communications Limited (2001-2002)

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{Unbulleted list

|{{BSE was|532822}}

|{{NSE was|IDEA}}

}}

| fate = Merged with Vodafone India into Vodafone Idea

| successor = Vodafone Idea

| area_served = India

| key_people = {{Unbulleted list

|Kumar Mangalam Birla {{Small|(Chairman)}}

|Himanshu Kapania {{Small|(Managing director)}}

}}

| ISIN = INE669E01016

| industry = Telecommunications

| products = Mobile telephony, wireless broadband

| revenue = {{up}} {{INRConvert|36162.54|c}} (2016){{cite web |url=http://profit.ndtv.com/stock/idea-cellular-ltd_idea/financials-yearly |title=Consolidated Result 2016-17}}

| operating_income = {{up}} {{INRConvert|12180.67|c}} (2016)

| net_income = {{up}} {{INRConvert|2728.13|c}} (2016)

| assets = {{up}}

{{INRConvert|98577.16|c}} (2016)

| equity = {{up}}

{{INRConvert|27262.46|c}} (2016)

| owner = {{Unbulleted list

|Aditya Birla Group (49.05%)

|Axiata (19.96%)

|Providence Equity Partners (10.60%)

}}

| members = 220.00 million

| members_year = June 2018

| parent = Aditya Birla Group

| foundation = {{Start date and age|1995}}

| founder = Aditya Birla Group

| defunct = {{End date|2018|08|31}} (as company)

{{End date|2020|09|07}} (as brand)

| location = Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India{{cite web |url=http://www.ideacellular123.com/IDEA.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=IDEA_Page_IVContact |title=Idea Cellular – Cell Phone Services |access-date=28 June 2012 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

Idea Cellular was an Indian telecommunications company based at Mumbai, Maharashtra.{{Cite web |date= |title=Idea Cellular – Cell Phone Services {{!}}3G, Prepaid, Postpaid & Wireless Internet |url=http://www.ideacellular.com/aboutus/aboutidea |access-date=2014-07-29 |website=www.ideacellular.com |language=en}} It was an integrated GSM operator and had 220.00 million subscribers as of June 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/PR_No.23_TSD_Eng_16022018.pdf|title=Press Release No. 23/2018|date=16 February 2018|publisher=Telecom Regulatory Authority of India|access-date=20 February 2018}}

In 2018 Idea Cellular merged with Vodafone India into Vodafone Idea.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/idea-vodafone-say-merger-complete-now-indias-largest-telco-with-408-million-active-users/articleshow/65619297.cms?from=mdr|date=31 August 2018|title=Idea-Vodafone say merger complete, now India's largest telco with 408 million active users|website=Indiatimes}}

History

Idea Cellular was incorporated as Birla Communications in 1995 after GSM licenses were won in Gujarat and Maharashtra circles. The company name was changed to Idea Cellular and the brand Idea was introduced in 2002 after a series of name changes following mergers and joint ventures with Grasim Industries, AT&T Corporation and Tata Group.{{Cite web |date= |title=Idea Cellular – Cell Phone Services {{!}}3G, Prepaid, Postpaid & Wireless Internet |url=http://www.ideacellular.com/aboutus/history |access-date=2014-07-29 |website=www.ideacellular.com |language=en}} Following the exit of AT&T Corporation and Tata Group from the joint venture in 2004 and 2006 respectively, Idea Cellular became a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Group.{{cite web | title=Cingular Allows Agreement to Sell Stake in Indian Wireless Service Provider to Expire | website=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130452/000095014405006486/g95844exv99w1.htm | access-date=2015-06-07}} Malaysia based Axiata had bought around 20% stake in the company in 2008 for US$2 billion.{{Cite news |last=www.ETTelecom.com |title=Malaysian Telco Axiata may soon exit Vodafone Idea as stock continues its slide - ET Telecom |language=en |url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/malaysian-telco-axiata-may-soon-exit-vodafone-idea-as-stock-continues-its-slide/74367060 |access-date=2020-06-14}}

Idea previously bought a 40.8% stake in Spice Telecom, for over {{INR}}2,700 crore.{{cite web |url= https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/spice-telecom-buy-to-leave-idea-cellular-richer/story-4rnJnPMlFa4EiXEUsLswhP.html |title=Spice Telecom buy to leave Idea Cellular richer |last=Kumar|first=Arun|date=2008-06-30|publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=2020-12-21}}

=Merger with Vodafone India=

The entry of Jio in 2016 had led to various mergers and consolidations in the Indian telecom sector.{{Cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/rws5uR2FeOti3o3nU7AirL/The-shakeup-in-Indias-telecom-sector.html|title=The shakeup in India's telecom sector|last=Raj|first=Amrit|date=2017-10-21|work=www.livemint.com|access-date=2018-04-21}} It was announced in March 2017 that even Idea Cellular and Vodafone India would be merged. The merger got approval from Department of Telecommunications in July 2018. On August 30, 2018, National Company Law Tribunal gave the final nod to the Vodafone-Idea merger {{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/nclt-gives-go-ahead-to-idea-vodafone-merger/articleshow/65616161.cms |title=NCLT gives go-ahead to Idea-Vodafone merger |last1=Parbat |first1=Kalyan |date=2018-08-31 |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2018-09-01 |last2=Sengupta |first2=Devina}} The merger was completed on 31 August 2018, and the newly merged entity was named Vodafone Idea.{{Cite web |date= |title=Vodafone Idea Limited {{!}} Campaign |url=https://www.vodafoneidea.com/stronger-together |access-date=2019-07-24 |website=www.vodafoneidea.com |language=en}}{{cite news|title=Idea approves merger with Vodafone India, to create India's largest telco|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/companies-a-z/corporate-trends/idea-approves-merger-with-vodafone-india-to-create-indias-largest-telco/articleshow/57726194.cms|website=The Economic Times|access-date=20 March 2017|last1=Guha|first1=Romit}}{{cite web|last1=Kurup|first1=Rajesh|title=Idea Cellular board approves merger with Vodafone India; shares tank 9%|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/idea-cellular-board-approves-merger-with-vodafone-india/article9591707.ece|website=The Hindu Business Line|access-date=20 March 2017|language=en|date=20 March 2017}}{{cite web |title=Disclosure under Regulation 30 of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015 |url=https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/30efb0f1-67b4-40d7-b7e8-d1c60104dd50.pdf |website=BSE |access-date=31 August 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The merger created the largest telecom company in India by subscribers and by revenue. Under the terms of the deal, the Vodafone Group holds a 45.2% stake in the combined entity, the Aditya Birla Group holds 26% and the remaining shares will be held by the public.

On 7 September 2020, Vodafone Idea unveiled this new brand identity, Vi, which involved the integration of the company's erstwhile separate brands Vodafone India and Idea Cellular into one unified brand.

Operations

In the 2010 3G spectrum auction, Idea paid {{INRConvert|57.68|b}} for spectrum in 11 circles.{{cite web |url=http://www.medianama.com/2010/05/223-3g-auction-india-ends-provisional-winners/ |title=India's 3G Auction Ends; Operator And Circle-Wise Results |first=Nikhil |last=Pahwa |work=MediaNama |date=19 May 2010}} After the launch of MNP in India, Idea further strengthened its customer base because it was the mobile network with most net port-ins.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/five-years-on-idea-vodafone-airtel-emerge-top-gainers-in-mnp-kotak/articleshow/51808066.cms|title=Five years on, Idea, Vodafone, Airtel emerge top gainers in MNP: Kotak|last=Abbas|first=Muntazir|date=2016-04-13|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2018-04-21}}

=Radio frequency summary=

Idea Cellular owned spectrum in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands across the country.{{citation |url=http://telecomtalk.info/india-spectrum-data-sheet/134245/|publisher=Telecom Talk|access-date=15 July 2018|title=Pan India 2016 spectrum holding data sheet (updated)}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" ! scope="col" \| Telecom circle coverage ! scope="col" \| E-GSM 900MHz Band 8 ! scope="col" \| GSM / LTE-FDD 1800MHz Band 3 ! scope="col" \| UMTS 2100MHz Band 1 ! scope="col" \| LTE-TDD 2300MHz Band 40 ! scope="col" \| LTE-TDD 2500MHz Band 41
Delhi	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Mumbai	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Kolkata	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Gujarat	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Karnataka	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}
Maharashtra & Goa	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Tamil Nadu	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}
Haryana	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Kerala	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Madhya Pradesh
Punjab	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Rajasthan	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Uttar Pradesh (East)	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Uttar Pradesh (West)	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
West Bengal	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Assam	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Bihar & Jharkhand	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Himachal Pradesh	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Jammu and Kashmir	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
North East	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Odisha	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}

Note: The above table contains Vodafone Idea radio frequency details because they used to share their networks with each other via ICR (intra-circle roaming agreement) in some circles. For example, Idea had started giving its customers in Delhi access to 4G services in May 2018 via the Vodafone network.{{citation |url=http://telecomtalk.info/idea-cellular-4g-delhi/177190/|publisher=Telecom Talk|access-date=15 July 2018|title=Idea Cellular 4G Services Now Live in Delhi Via ICR With Vodafone}}{{citation |url=http://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/idea-to-launch-volte-in-march-inks-4g-icr-agreement-with-vodafone/62634564|publisher=ET Telecom|access-date=15 July 2018|title=Idea to launch VoLTE in March, inks 4G ICR agreement with Vodafone}}

References

External links

{{Official website|}}

Category:Companies based in Mumbai

Category:Telecommunications companies of India

Category:Axiata

Category:Aditya Birla Group

Category:Mobile phone companies of India

Category:Private equity portfolio companies

Category:Providence Equity Partners companies

Category:Internet service providers of India

Category:Indian companies established in 1995

Category:Indian brands

Category:Former AT&T subsidiaries

Category:Former Tata Group subsidiaries

Category:1995 establishments in Maharashtra

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1995

Category:Companies formerly listed on the National Stock Exchange of India

Category:Companies formerly listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" ! scope="col" \| Telecom circle coverage ! scope="col" \| E-GSM 900MHz Band 8 ! scope="col" \| GSM / LTE-FDD 1800MHz Band 3 ! scope="col" \| UMTS 2100MHz Band 1 ! scope="col" \| LTE-TDD 2300MHz Band 40 ! scope="col" \| LTE-TDD 2500MHz Band 41
Delhi	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Mumbai	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Kolkata	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Gujarat	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Karnataka	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}
Maharashtra & Goa	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Tamil Nadu	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}
Haryana	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Kerala	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Madhya Pradesh
Punjab	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Rajasthan	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Uttar Pradesh (East)	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Uttar Pradesh (West)	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
West Bengal	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Assam	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Bihar & Jharkhand	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Himachal Pradesh	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Jammu and Kashmir	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
North East	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}
Odisha	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}	{{na\|color=}}	{{ya\|color=}}